Totally get what you're saying about crunchy stuff. Apples were a big nope for me too at first—I kept imagining something going wrong, even though logically I knew my teeth were fine now. Weird how braces condition you into being cautious about certain foods, right? Took me a while before I trusted my teeth enough to munch on popcorn again. Pizza crust was a bit tricky, but chips and pretzels were the things I found oddly intimidating. Like, I'd stare them down for a second before finally deciding to just go for it, haha.
Anyway, sounds like mac and cheese or ice cream is a solid start. Your teeth have been through quite the journey... take it slow and enjoy rediscovering your favorites again—it's pretty satisfying!
I remember feeling exactly the same way about popcorn. Funny enough, I was never a huge popcorn fan before braces, but the second they told me I couldn't have it, suddenly it was all I wanted. Weird how that works, huh? Anyway, when I finally got my braces off, popcorn was literally the first thing I went for. But even then, I hesitated—like you said, it's almost like your brain needs a minute to catch up with reality.
Honestly though, marking the occasion doesn't have to be about food alone. When mine came off, I was pretty tight on cash (braces aren't exactly cheap...), so instead of splurging on a fancy meal or anything, I decided to do something simple but meaningful. I took a bunch of selfies smiling wide without feeling self-conscious for the first time in ages. Sounds cheesy (no pun intended), but it felt really good just seeing myself smile naturally again without worrying about brackets or wires.
If you're looking for something budget-friendly and still celebratory, maybe treat yourself to a small indulgence you've missed—like grabbing your favorite candy bar or snack you avoided during braces. Or even better, just take some time to appreciate how far you've come. Sometimes just acknowledging the journey itself is celebration enough.
Also curious—did anyone else find themselves subconsciously running their tongue over their teeth constantly after getting braces off? It took me weeks to stop doing that...felt so strange having smooth teeth again after years of metal!
Haha, the tongue thing is totally normal—I've had patients tell me they couldn't stop doing that for weeks after! It's like your brain needs extra convincing that the braces are really gone. And you're right, celebrating doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. I've heard some great ideas from patients, like treating themselves to gum (finally!) or just enjoying the freedom of flossing without threading around wires. Whatever you choose, congrats on making it through the braces journey...it's definitely worth celebrating.
Reading this makes me feel a bit better about getting my braces off soon. Still, I can't help but wonder...does it feel weird or sensitive when you eat certain foods again? Like biting into an apple or something crunchy—does it take time to get used to, or is it just instantly awesome? I'm probably overthinking it, but hey, that's what I do best, haha.
You'll probably notice a little sensitivity at first, especially with crunchy or cold foods. I remember when I got mine off, biting into an apple felt pretty strange—almost like my teeth were suddenly 'exposed' again. It wasn't painful, just...different. But honestly, it didn't last long. Within a few days, things felt completely normal, and I wasn't even thinking about it anymore. You're definitely not overthinking—it's natural to wonder about these things after having braces for so long. Just ease into it, and you'll be enjoying crunchy apples, popcorn, and everything else again in no time. Congrats on getting through braces, by the way. It's a nice milestone.
